After Jonathan Greenard saw his name in the trade rumor mill for most of this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings pulled the trigger on a deal that sent the veteran pass rusher to the Philadelphia Eagles.
On April 24, Minnesota sent Greenard to Philadelphia in exchange for two third-round picks, the No. 98 selection in this year’s draft, and a third-rounder next year. The Vikings would end up using that pick to select former Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas on Day 2.
Moreover, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, citing sources, that Greenard agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with the Eagles.
Following the end of Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski shared a major reason that Minnesota decided to part ways with the edge rusher despite wanting to compete this upcoming 2026 NFL season.
“He’s an impact player,” Brzezinski said (h/t Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune). “It’s something we understand is not making the Minnesota Vikings a better team today. But there’s a lot of factors involved, and particularly with the economics, we were able to reach a resolution that made sense for the Vikings.
“We’re going to miss him. We’re happy he was able to get himself a new contract, but this is not something we’re jumping around excitedly about. We did feel like it was the best thing for the organization moving forward.”
Eagles Explain Decision to Make Trade With Vikings
Meanwhile, the Eagles explained why they decided it was ideal to part ways with two third-round draft picks to bolster their pass rush as they look to be contenders in the 2026 NFL season.
“What you see is a relentless player with physical tools. He can win in multiple ways; he is hard to block,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said (h/t Tim McManus of ESPN). “I know when we play Minnesota, we are worried about where he is at all times. We just felt like we had a really good D-line, but we really wanted to elevate it to another level.”
With the Vikings last season, Greenard posted a 74.2 overall defensive grade from PFF, placing 31st out of 115 qualified edge defenders. His pass-rush grade came in at 77.6, good for 18th, while his 77.8 run-defense grade ranked 12th at the position.
Moreover, he finished the campaign with 47 total pressures, including four sacks, 35 hurries, and eight hits. Greenard also recorded 24 solo tackles and forced one fumble.
Jonathan Greenard Gets Blunt About Heading to the Eagles
Furthermore, Greenard was in Philadelphia when the trade went down as he was watching the playoff game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“That’s a crazy environment,” Greenard told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark. “This is exactly what I thought it was going to be, a crazy environment, welcoming, everything. So I’m excited.
“I’m gonna bring that same energy I’ve been doing my whole time in the NFL. And bring some more hardware, too. So that’s the main thing, on-the-go on the mindset.
“I know that [Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is] a genius for a reason and one of the best in the game for a reason,” Greenard said. “So I’m excited to see what he’s going to draw. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
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